Freshman Billy Kelly of South Kingston, R.I., moves in to State Quad. (Photo by Brian Smith)

Bill and Ellen Kelly of South Kingston, R.I., had
to move fast. As they stood outside State Quad on
freshman Moving-In Day, Aug. 24, their son Billy's
number was suddenly called. They grabbed the heavily
laden cart piled high with pillows, books, and
lamps, and headed into the dorm building.

"Billy is an Eagle Scout," said his dad, smiling
as he pushed the cart. "He has to be prepared for
everything. He has everything he needs and then
some."

Billy, who is interested in
business,
is the first in his family to leave for college.

The Dynamic Welcoming Committee
(Photo by Brian Smith)

Faculty, University staff, and staff from the
nearby Turf Hotels helped carry suitcases,
computers, and TVs, while students in purple UAlbany
T-shirts with the school's Great Dane mascot painted
on their faces danced and cheered welcomes to the
incoming students. Officer in Charge Susan Herbst
greeted parents and students and told the crowd, "It
takes a community to move in students." She
introduced Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings (Class of
'76), and Turf Hotels Vice President Brian
Straughter, who presented a donation of $10,000 to
UAlbany to help support the University's
Honors College and
Educational Opportunity Program.

It was a day of mixed emotions for proud parents
sending off their sons and daughters for the first
time. Priscilla Egwim of Laurelton, N.Y., stood
against a big suitcase as her husband Ezekiel
unloaded the car with her son Eric. Priscilla said,
"The house is going to be empty. I have only him. I
will miss him so much. But you have to get your
education." Eric, who said he is premed, enrolled at
UAlbany with nine other students from St. Francis
Preparatory School.

Parents seemed to take the good-byes harder than
their offspring. Catrina Belleau had left
Binghamton, N.Y., with her daughter Ariffa England
at 6:40 a.m. "I'm scared and nervous," said Ariffa's
mom, who still has a 16-year-old son at home. But
her daughter, interested in
biology
and medicine, appeared to be the picture of
confidence.

Patricia Leverone of Wantagh, N.Y., said she and
her husband Michael were dropping off "our one and
only, Joseph." A "UAlbany Dad" sticker decorated a
back window of their van.

Joseph had seen seven or eight different
colleges, and even had a deposit down on a college
in Pennsylvania. Then he visited UAlbany, and liked
it so much he decided to come to study
criminal
justice.

"I've been saying to him all week I'll miss you,"
his mom said.

The scene was full of parents and hugs and
students looking for the right residence hall, and
siblings shedding a tear.

Three freshmen stood in front of State Quad
without their families. Yenan Gu, raised near
Shanghai; Bowen Liu, raised near Beijing; and Shiwen
Zhang, from Shenyang, also near Beijing, had flown
alone from China to Albany to begin their university
education.

"I have never left home before," said Yenan, who
is interested in
economics.
She added, "It's really cool here."

Bowen, who wants to study
accounting, said his parents found the tuition
reasonable and felt he would be safe here, living in
the capital of New York State.

Shiwen Zhang, who plans to study
business administration, said she chose UAlbany
because "it fits me well. I like the scenery." She
concluded, "I want to see the world in my 20s. I
like to travel."